The Page 1 Podcast

The Page 1 Podcast is a weekly show that features a variety of guests and thought leaders on topics ranging from channel strategies, to tariffs, influencer marketing, best in class product launches, and all the details about how to accelerate your eCommerce sales with the big box retailers, or what we call rCommerce.

From Single Mom to Building Massive Growth with Packit Feezable Lunch Bags – Melissa Kieling EP71 11/27/2020

From Single Mom to Building Massive Growth with Packit Feezable Lunch Bags – Melissa Kieling EP71 How to Build a Strong Brand Awareness and Effective Company Culture- With PackIt CEO Melissa Kieling What is more important for a new brand; massive revenue or brand recognition? Brand recognition goes a long way especially for a product-based company with an original product that’s looking to be noticed by retailers. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Melissa Kieing, who is the CEO and founder of PackIt. PackIt is the world’s original freezable lunch bag that grew to become a household name. Melissa came from a humble beginning as a struggling single mom to a CEO of the number one fastest-growing women-owned business in Inc. 500 2014. She explains how she utilized the main stream media to create awareness and recognition around her brand for 2 years straight before she got a retailer. Listen in to learn why it is important to have an entrepreneurial drive and passion to grow your business since it doesn’t feel like work. You will also learn how you can create a strong and effective company culture that involves employees as a huge part of the company. Key Takeaways: Embracing an entrepreneurship spirit with employees and giving each team member the responsibility of managing their workload. The importance of having entrepreneurial drive to enable you to scale your business amid many responsibilities. How to be comfortable with taking chances and educating yourself to make the right decisions for your business. How to build a brand through media to get the attention of consumers and retailers. The power of an effective company culture that involves employees and making them part and parcel of the day to day operations. Episode Timeline: [2:04] Melissa explains how she founded her product- freezable lunch bag- as she was struggling to pack her children healthy food plus where they’re distributed across the US and internationally. [3:42] She describes their team; how they operate with an entrepreneurial spirit, their operational model, and manufacturing in China. [6:20] How they keep in track with the profitable and nonprofitable sales opportunities. [7:57] Melissa explains how she was driven by a passion to keep her business soaring even with the responsibility of being a single mom. [9:58] She praises the woman who has been assisting her all these years and explains how she has contributed to her success. [11:04] How she learned to be confident as a businesswoman by picking herself and learning from her experiences, not a set roadmap. [13:32] The importance of seeking help and asking silly questions especially for women business owners. [14:43] The struggles she went through when pitching to many retailers when she first began and how they used the media to get to the consumer. [2:18] Why she took on a financial partner to help deal with the massive demand and growth. [24:07] How and why they transitioned from a retail business to a wholesale business. [25:20] She describes the company culture they have at PackIt that gives employees an excellent work environment and allows them to be part of all company’s operations. [28:33] She talks about the product they’re developing working with the eCommerce grocery delivery companies to expand their reach in a renewable and sustainable manner. Quotes: “Once you humble yourself and realize that you can make it happen, you can create your own path.”- Melissa [12:36] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16965872

The Art of Social Media Influencer Marketing- Justin Blaney Ep70 11/20/2020

The Art of Social Media Influencer Marketing- Justin Blaney Ep70 Perfecting the Art of Influencer Marketing- Justin Blaney Thinking of using social media to market your brand, how about influencer marketing? Influencer marketing is a fairly new industry yet ever-changing and important for getting your brand out there in front of thousands of potential customers. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Justin Blaney about how businesses can approach and utilize influencer marketing as a form of advertising their products. Justin is a speaker, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of 15 books. He’s also a professor at the University of Washington and is followed by a million people on Facebook/ Instagram. Listen in to learn how to approach influencers on social media to market your product. You will also learn the ways you can track your progress and why your marketing campaign will only be successful if you delegate it to people who get social media. Key Takeaways: The power of delegating tasks in helping you keep track of things and details. How to track metrics when using influencer marketing to understand your progress and improve where you can. The magic of creating viral content that happens through online sharing. The importance of creating authentic long-term relationships with influencers on social media. Episode Timeline: [2:07] Justin talks about the course he created at the University of Washington called ‘influencer marketing’ and other phases of his career which include being an author. [4:22] The integrated parts of Justin’s life and how he found a system of hiring good people that help him keep a system. [6:26] How COVID-19 has unpredictably changed his life both positively and negatively. [9:25] How to get started in influencer marketing as a business by learning how to delegate it to someone who already knows about social media. [14:49] How to have a tracking metric when using influencer marketing for your business to know whether it’s working or not. [19:05] He explains how sharing is everything- the science behind it and how content can become viral. [25:40] How to approach influencer marketing and develop authentic long-term relationships as a brand with influencers. [31:03] Justin mentions the best social media platforms to advertise on for B2C and B2B businesses. [32:40] The tools to use to find influencers online and how to approach them. [37:12] YouTube versus Instagram- why none is better than the other and it all depends on the product and the approach. Quotes: “Social media is still about authentic relationships, including the relationship between influencers and the brand- that needs to be authentic too.”- Justin [28:50] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16873118

Buy, Don’t Build A Company- With Serial Entrepreneur - Roland Frasier Ep69 11/13/2020

Buy, Don’t Build A Company- With Serial Entrepreneur - Roland Frasier Ep69 Buy, Don’t Build A Company- With Serial Entrepreneur Roland Frasier Are you thinking of selling your business or maybe buying a business to expand your investment portfolio? You can do so on the sidelines coaching the management team with strategy and still scale higher with the businesses In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Roland Frasier about company acquisitions strategies and how he manages to be a serial entrepreneur investing in multiple businesses. Roland is co-founder and/or principal of 5 different Inc. Magazine fastest-growing companies. He’s a serial entrepreneur who has grown 24 businesses with adjusted sales ranging from $3 million to under $4 billion. He is the current CEO of All Channels Media, LLC, and principal in Scalable.co, DigitalMarketer.com, Traffic & Conversion Summit, and more. Listen in to learn the seven major categories you can approach the acquisition of both companies and assets. You will also learn the importance of strategy over technical skills in the success of a business. Key Takeaways: Understanding the system to follow when looking to acquire assets or a company and identifying their existing benefits. Understanding why business owners stay after selling control of their businesses and why you should stay after selling the majority of your business. Why you need to only be good at strategy and not the technical skills to be successful in business. The strategy of buying and selling businesses by not working in or out of them but above them. The importance of understanding part of business operations to be a good investor. Episode Timeline: [3:12] Roland describes how he works toward being his own investment banker and private equity firm plus working as a coach to CEO in companies he invests in. [5:18] He explains why it is better to buy than start a company to avoid the failure rate that exists while starting a company. [7:27] The seven major categories of assets and companies and how to approach each when looking to acquire. [12:53] Roland explains the types of businesses he invests in and those he stays away from. [17:09] The nine different ways you can run your business passively- handing management over to others. [22:21] Why Roland describes strategy as the most important skill that anyone needs to be successful in business. [24:08] The strategy that Roland and his partners use by investing in a competent and temporary team to help get a newly acquired company on track before they leave. [27:36] The KPIs that Roland and his team look at quarterly through dynamic goals. [32:54] Roland explains why he’s not a passive real estate investor or business owner but rather the businesses occupying a portfolio slot in his overall investment portfolio. Quotes: “If I could only pick one skill to have to be successful in business, it would be to be good at strategy because those technical skills are hirable.”- Roland [23:19] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16783577

Building Your Own Global Company After 22 Years As An Executive – Bill Endres Ep68 11/06/2020

Building Your Own Global Company After 22 Years As An Executive – Bill Endres Ep68 How Select Brands Licenses Products with Prestigious Brands Plus the eCommerce Space After COVID-19 Do you want your product to be recognized and be competitive in the market after licensing? Then think of brands that will bring value and prestige to your product, not just any name. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Bill Endres, the owner of Select Brands. Bill decided to leave a career at the executive level after 22 years and now develops private label and licensed products selling to some of the largest mass retailers in the world. He also conducts business with his two sons each contributing differently within the company. Listen in to learn how the pandemic has unleashed benefits for some industries in the areas of eCommerce and the direct-to-consumer market. You will also hear how companies like Select Brands are going about finding and utilizing manufacturers outside of China. Key Takeaways: How they utilize each employee’s capabilities from the US to China through collaborations. How the pandemic has positively impacted eCommerce in certain industries. The importance of collaborating with brands that bring value and prestige to your product and not just a name. The benefits of focusing on what you’re good at as a company and not trying to be everything to everyone. Episode Timeline: [1:55] Bill explains the products they develop- kitchen appliances and other products they do private labeling and licensed brands. [3:14] The unexpected demand they saw during the Coronavirus pandemic after eCommerce took off. [5:00] Bill explains the COVID-19 measures they still have in place to combat the virus. [7:05] He explains how they found manufacturers outside China and the time challenges they’ve had due to the production complexities of their products. [9:28] He explains the size of Select Brands as an international company and the unique operational strategies they use. [10:55] How they all collaborate to complete a project and the complex process of manufacturing that takes a year. [14:59] How eCommerce and direct to consumer model has created opportunities for Select Brands to offer new concepts to consumers. [17:47] Bill explains how and why they moved from the executive level and started developing their own products. [21:00] He narrates how he found funding to put Select Brands up and running. [25:09] Bill describes the licensing process and the lessons he learned in investing his product with valuable brands. [29:57] The lessons Bill learned from his father about business and the roles his two sons contribute to the company. [34:10] Learning not to be everything to everyone and rather concentrating on one product you’re good at as a company. Quotes: “It’s not just putting a name on a product; it’s having a name go on a product that people can recognize that what the value and the utility is and what prestige that brand brings to that product.”- Bill [25:47] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16705523

Stock Market Analysis – Before And After The 2020 Election - Bryan Piskorowski Ep67 10/30/2020

Stock Market Analysis – Before And After The 2020 Election - Bryan Piskorowski Ep67 The Investment Market Status in 2020- with Bryan Piskorowski It is evident that 2020 has been a hard year for not only the US economy but also the global economy and many sectors have shifted in one way or the other. It is important to note that the current inflation no matter how small has had either long-term or short-term impacts on your investment portfolio. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Bryan Piskorowski on the current investment market and the state of the economy. Bryan is the Managing Director, Head of Advice and Investment Guidance at Wells Fargo Asset Management. He is an accomplished wealth management executive with a proven track record of redefining advice delivery and portfolio implementation. Listen in to learn what you need to know before investing in bonds in the current economic climate. You will also learn the importance of having an asset manager to help manage your portfolio and save you from emotional breakdown especially now during these unstable economic times. Key Takeaways: Why there’s no chance of hyperinflation due to the 2020 pandemic due to lack of rush in the growth of resources. How to be creative when investing in bonds to continually make money in the current economic climate. How COVID-19 has changed different sectors’ performance in the last 12 months and how people are now doing business. Episode Timeline: [1:44] Bryan describes his career for the last 25 years understanding clients’ needs and building new investment products at Wells Fargo Asset Management. [5:05] He explains the chances of inflation that exist in our economy in 2020 and 2021. [11:36] Why lack of stimulus packages won’t bring the economy down but will impact equity prices and the evaluation of equity risk. [16:24] The importance of having liquidity and short-term credit risk to get past the current inflation in your business. [19:30] Bryan explains the risks and advantages of investing in bonds in the current economic climate. [26:09] The potential of having gold as a way to diversify your investment portfolio. [29:42] How the unnatural buyers were brought out of the dollar market and the state of the USD currency. [34:10] The impact of COVID-19 in different industries plus the favorable and unfavorable areas to invest in. [43:08] The volatility of the 2020 market and how to remain optimistic by having an advisor to help manage your portfolio. [47:10] How to use your past successes and lessons to navigate your future. Quotes: “If you know your history, you’ll have a much better chance of being able to navigate the future.” [49:30] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16599497

How to Build A D2C Website business that works - Kevin Urrutia Ep66 10/23/2020

How to Build A D2C Website business that works - Kevin Urrutia Ep66 How to Make Sales on Your Website and Social Media Your business is currently doing well in sales on Amazon and other places like that, but your website isn’t making any sales, and you’re looking for ways you can improve it to start making those sales, right? Well, you will need a well-thought-out recipe to improve your website and possibly a social media campaign to get full benefits. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Kevin Urrutia about social media marketing and how to improve a website and start making sales online. Kevin is a serial entrepreneur, build brands across multiple industries where he generated $50 million a year in revenue, a podcast host, and the founder of Voy media. Voy Media is a social media advertising agency that helps brands scale with paid social at record speeds. Listen in to learn the importance of being creative in the social media platform that you advertise on to get the right traffic to your website. You will also learn how hiring great and positive people to be part of your team helps you grow your business. Key Takeaways: How to use creativity in your social media campaign to ensure traffic and sales on your website. The importance of having a profit margin as your measurable value during a social media campaign. Learning the skill of hiring great positive people that help grow your business. Episode Timeline: [1:39] Kevin shares about his book and podcast that are all about digital marketing and spending money online. [3:25] He talks about how Voy media works on the creative side of paid social media advertising for companies. [7:55] The recipe to put in place to start selling on your website. [12:53] Why it is important to be creative on the platform you’re advertising on to get traffic to your website. [18:07] The two crucial people that you need on your team when doing a social media campaign. [20:02] Why your KPI when doing a social media campaign should be about metrics and numbers. [23:15] Why the future of eCommerce is about forming return customers. [25:13] How they’re partnering with influencers to create content for luggage companies to make organic sales. [26:31] How Kevin has learned not to forgo opportunity cost when hiring great people for his team. [27:56] The hiring process that Kevin uses- considering references of the candidate. Quotes: “Truly hiring someone that’s great is really going to help you improve your business.”- Kevin [27:09] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16515737

From Startup to Global Leader - The Legacy Companies – Neal Asbury EP65 10/16/2020

From Startup to Global Leader - The Legacy Companies – Neal Asbury EP65 Entrepreneurship 101: Practical Business Strategies by An Expert Did you know that you can achieve your 10 years of business goals in 6 months through merger and acquisition activities? Interesting, isn’t it? But before buying a business, you have to know how to organically grow it and provide value to shareholders. In this episode of Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Neal Asbury about his manufacturing and exporting of kitchenware business. Neal is the CEO of the Legacy Companies, a diversified group of businesses engaged in manufacturing and distribution and doing business in over 130 countries. He also hosts a weekly national syndicated radio show called Neal Asbury’s Made in America. Listen in to learn the importance of opening up of foreign markets to the American entrepreneur. You will also learn about the strategies you need to consider if you’re thinking of mergers and acquisition activities. Key Takeaways: How COVID-19 has changed the remote working spectrum presently and the unforeseeable future. How mergers and acquisitions help with faster growth of a business and factors to consider before jumping into it. The importance of having business liquidity and cashflow. Finding a better public company in your area of operation to benchmark against and shoot for what they’re shooting for. The importance of opening up foreign markets to American manufacturers. Episode Timeline: [2:40] Neal describes his background in manufacturing and what the Legacy Companies do as a manufacture and exporter of kitchen appliances sold to the consumers and the commercial market. [4:49] He explains his companies’ experience during the COVID-19 pandemic; remaining open and most employees working remotely. [7:55] How remote working has worked out in the manufacturing industry and its impact on sales. [16:54] He talks about how Legacy Companies was built with 70 percent coming from mergers and acquisition activities and 30 percent from brands and products he created on his own. [23:12] What you need to think about when considering whether or not to do merger and acquisition work as you grow your business organically. [27:23] The simple practices of cash flow and asset management for business owners. [31:31] The smart strategies you need to apply to your business to start making good money and be attractive to investors. [42:04] Neal explains why managing a big company is the same as managing a small company- both managers strive for success. [44:27] He describes why he wrote his book ‘Conscientious Equity’ where he imagined a world where America would compete freely and fairly. [52:56] Why foreign markets need to be opened up to the American manufacturers to sell in the same way foreign manufacturers are selling to the American market. [1:00:56] Why the government needs to show up for entrepreneurs and open up foreign markets in the same way others have access to the American markets. Quotes: “Whenever you’re building a business, you should be thinking about ‘who would be the buyer of this business’ because we’re not going to live forever.”- Neal [31:38] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16323620

Bootstrapping Business | Listening to Customers | Email List Building - Rytis Lauris EP64 10/09/2020

Bootstrapping Business | Listening to Customers | Email List Building - Rytis Lauris EP64 How to Monetize on Consumer Pain Points to Fund Your Business Does the idea of relying on your customers to fund your business seem appealing than relying on investors? This method has existed for a while now, but it is not widely used for it is deemed risky. In this episode of Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Rytis Lauris about his digital marketing company and how they’ve monetized their customer’s pain points. Rytis is the founder and CEO of Omnisend, a powerful marketing platform that allows brands to do way more than send email blasts. He failed on his first two businesses but then learned to use brutal time prioritization and management in both professional and personal to help manage his international company and turn it into a leading marketing automation platform. Listen in to learn how you can convert your site’s visitor’s into subscribers and eventually to paying customers. You will also learn some tips on how to perfectly manage your professional time while finding personal time to enrich your mind. Key Takeaways: The idea of relying on customer funding rather than investor funding. How to convert your site’s visitors into subscribers and then converting them into buying customers eventually. The golden tips on how to personally and professionally manage your time as a leader. Episode Timeline: [3:52] Rytis defines Omnisend as a retention marketing platform for different channels to communicate with the existing audience. [6:47] The positive and negative effects of Coronavirus on online businesses. [7:48] Rytis describes the Omnisend team, the period they’ve been in business, and working semi-remote before Coronavirus. [10:00] The tools they use to process data and the methodology of using OKRs to set aspirational goals and objectives for the team. [14:38] How to focus on customers and rely on them to fund your business by monetizing on their pain points rather than relying on investors. [17:43] The strategy of marketing at the B to C business level and the eCommerce platform Rytis would recommend. [21:34] Why you don’t need to hire in-house marketing or eCommerce expert. [23:41] How to build a subscriber’s list before converting them into buying customers. [27:57] Rytis shares three ways that he uses to manage both his professional and personal time. [31:10] He talks about his reading habits and some professional books recommendations. Quotes: “If you’re solving problems larger than you charge for your service, someone’s going to pay.”- Rytis Lauris [15:18] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16323479

The American Made Commando Lock Story - Matt Damman - EP63 10/02/2020

The American Made Commando Lock Story - Matt Damman - EP63 Transforming a Distressing Brand to A Successful One How do you take a distressed company and turn it into a profitable successful business? What best strategies should you use when doing a complete restarting and transformation of a brand? Transforming a brand from failure to success requires immense work, strategy, and patience from those who are willing to take the chance. In this episode of Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Matt Damman about his success in transforming a distressed company and making it successful in a very short amount of time. Matt is the CEO of Commando Lock company in Michigan, a growing manufacture of military-grade padlocks and security systems, and an entrepreneur. He turned the face of Commando Lock. Listen in to learn how Matt transformed Commando Lock into a quality brand that resonates with the people. You will also learn the importance of recognizing and acknowledging operational challenges that will be more apparent after you start making sales. Key Takeaways: How to turn a distressed money-losing company into a profitable business. How to convince investors to take a bet on a highly risky product. Learning how to run a company and handle the division of labor during its initial stages. Episode Timeline [1:59] Matt explains the size of his company and its customer base online and offline. [4:18] Why they’re looking into diversifying their client base and not solely depend on anyone plus how they landed a military deal. [5:54] Matt describes their heavy-duty padlocks, other security product lines, and their future target market. [8:34] He explains how they restarted Commando Lock Company doing things all over again from the start. [13:45] How they pitched to the investors using their world-class product even though it was a risky venture. [17:34] The process they used when relaunching Commando Lock by making the product resonate with the people. [19:53] How to divide the labor at the beginning when you cannot afford to hire experts. [22:14] Learning how to deal with operational challenges that are going to arise when your product becomes successful. [23:26] The process of prototyping that they engaged in before they had a quality finished product within a short period. [30:12] The lessons he borrowed from working in large companies about operating businesses. [33:13] The mistake he made with Commando Lock of using one data point and not doing his due diligence before relaunching. Quotes: “That’s what I like about being a small company versus the big company, you move quickly and impact change immediately.”- Matt Damman [32:22] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16014323

How This Venture Capitalist Investor Grows Companies from 1 to 100 million - Mark Thomann Ep 62 09/25/2020

How This Venture Capitalist Investor Grows Companies from 1 to 100 million - Mark Thomann Ep 62 Understanding the Role of a Venturepreneur Have you ever wondered what a venturepreneur does? The combination of venture capitalist and an entrepreneur- helping mostly small emerging companies scale. In this episode of Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Mark Thomann about his role as a venturepreneur who helps take small brands from $1 million to $100 million in revenue. Mark is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who has a history of reimagining and relaunching iconic brands. He is the founder of Dormitus Brands and recently founded an early-stage health and wellness fund called Spiral Sun Ventures. Listen in to learn the importance of small brands looking at the failure of other brands as an example for them to succeed. You will also learn why it is extremely difficult for emerging brands to be profitable unless they exit to big brands especially in the beverage industry. Key Takeaways: Learning how to take care of your physical health to be more productive in your professional life. How to build a brand and a community that continues to purchase your product. The lessons to learn from failed brands or products similar to yours for you to succeed. Why emerging brands need significant marketing or to exit to big companies to be profitable. Episode Timeline: [2:22] Mark explains why he formed Spiral Sun Ventures as a way to help young entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. [5:36] How he changed his life-work balance to be more focused on health and wellness. [9:39] The importance of bringing human capital to impact small companies and take them from $1 million to $100 million in revenue while remaining gritty and entrepreneurial. [13:28] Why brands need to understand why other companies like them failed plus generating consumer buzz around their product. [18:36] He explains the size of his company’s investments and how they estimate value. [21:04] The key things he looks for when helping a company and the growth they have experienced over the years. [24:31] How to build a company to become a household brand through direct to consumer eCommerce business. [27:07] Mark explains how they successfully relaunched a soda brand through great marketing. [34:02] The benefits of natural ways of building brands and communities and building vital relationships [36:10] Why it is challenging for small brands to make money especially in beverages unless they exit to big companies. [40:38] He narrates why he failed in a business he acquired from Unilever and why he wouldn’t do traditional advertising anymore. Quotes: “If you really know what made a company fail, you’re much better equipped at understanding how to make it succeed.”- Mark [10:10] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/16014251

Brand Storytelling | Connecting With Customers - Ed Lynes EP 61 09/18/2020

Brand Storytelling | Connecting With Customers - Ed Lynes EP 61 The Art of Purposeful Brand Storytelling. How do you communicate with your customers with the right messaging? How do you develop that trust relationship that keeps bringing them back? One thing all customers have in common is a pain point, and your product has to first solve it. In this episode of Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Ed Lynes on the importance of building a trust relationship with your customers using the right messaging. Ed is the founder of Woden, a strategic messaging agency that helps you build consumer trust and remove friction. He helps transform your brand with a powerful story. Listen in to learn the areas that you need to target the customer and make a connection that will lead to relationship building. You will also learn the power you hold by understanding customer purchasing behavior and how you can use that to your benefit. Key Takeaways: Understanding how to build a relationship with your customers and communicating your purpose the right way. The importance of creating a brand story that allows your customer to be the hero who understands your product’s pain point. Learn about the things that are going to help you build better affinity and customer value. The power of understanding customer purchasing behavior and then aligning your messaging with it. Episode Timeline: [3:18] How at Woden they help brands with the right messaging to develop a customer relationship. [4:18] The three areas to target the customer, make a connection with them, and start building a relationship. [8:03] Learning how to communicate your brand’s purpose and letting the customer know you understand their pain point. [11:36] Ed shares a case study of how they helped a company that was suffering from genericide right their customer messaging. [17:29] How to create a brand story where the customer comes out as the hero with your product. [21:33] How to articulate your brand’s messaging to make sure that the customer understands the pain point. [26:53] How to find the motivation and the perception of why the customer is purchasing the product they’re purchasing. [30:18] How to focus on things you can control with your customer during uncertainty. [33:55] Ed recommends some of his strategies in understanding people and how to market to them. Quotes: “Every brand should know how to talk about themselves in a way that’s clear, compelling, and memorable.”- Ed Lynes [35:37] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/15681533

Using IP to Unlock A Huge Market - Smart Home Water Leak Detection– Larry Beger EP 60 09/11/2020

Using IP to Unlock A Huge Market - Smart Home Water Leak Detection– Larry Beger EP 60 Larry Beger: Making Homes Smart with Smart Technology What does it take to grow a multimillion-dollar company in a billion-dollar industry? Imagine creating an ever-improving technological system that caters to the consumer and hence increased trust. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Larry Beger, the CEO of Elexa Consumer Products. This is the company that offers the water leakage detectors system and valve controller, Guardian. He has been with Elexa since the late 90s and has driven it to immense successes, some failures, and struggles. Listen in to learn Elexa’s business model that has enabled them to scale globally and garner much consumer trust. You will also learn the advantages of labor outsourcing and a strong online marketing strategy. Key Takeaways: The power of outsourcing labor to cut expenses and have room for flexibility. The benefits of having a strong online presence as a brand in 2020. How to use technology to do online marketing and establish customer trust. The importance of developing a simple product with the consumer in mind. Episode Timeline: [2:19] Larry explains how their leak detector works, other products, and how they have improved it with technology over the years to make homes smart. [6:27] He explains how the sense detectors detect leakage which works as a physical connection. [7:39] The cost of setting up these technologized leak detectors and other future products that will bring the cost further down. [9:49] The scale of the business across the world and how they outsource for technical labor through third-party logistics to cut expenses. [11:17] He mentions their retailers, online market and presence, their internal sales team, and outside sales representatives. [13:10] He shares a story of how he was surprised when they once made massive sales 2 days after Christmas. [15:10] Larry describes himself as an idea person and how they have positioned themselves in the market. [20:22] How they use technology to market and gain customer trust. [21:56] He explains one of their competitive advantages as the ease of installation and the DIY installation aspect of the Guardian products. [27:28] How he struggled with the mechanical side of the business when they first started since he wants the customers to get the best. [31:31] He shares an interesting story of a business failure he made 15 years ago and the lessons it taught him. Quotes: “Don’t be afraid to fail, you can always learn from your own mistakes.”-Larry [33:18] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/15762857

Crowdfunding for startups using kickstarter for product launches- Adam Craft EP 59 09/04/2020

Crowdfunding for startups using kickstarter for product launches- Adam Craft EP 59 Adam Craft: Understanding Crowdfunding Product Launching What is the best way to launch your product- on Amazon or Kickstarter? Over the last recent years, these two platforms have become vital in launching products into the market. Crowdfunding (Kickstarter) is a great way to launch your product faster and gain customer feedback and loyalty. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Adam Craft on how he successfully launched a product on Kickstarter and the journey that was. Adam is the founder of Elevated Craft and his flagship product The Elevated Craft Cocktail Shaker, a design that raised over $472,000 on Kickstarter late last year. He continued taking presales and in just a few months his revenue exceeded $600k from almost 8,000 backers. Listen in to learn about the process of crowdfunding before, during, and after a product launch. You will also learn the difference between an Amazon and a Kickstarter product launch. Key Takeaways: The importance of having backers who take their time to know the product as you take care of them. The difference between doing an Amazon launch vs. crowdfunding. The advantage of the one on one customer feedback and loyalty on Kickstarter than anywhere else with product launches. The importance of having a cool product to attract backers on Kickstarter. Episode Timeline: [4:03] How being a student of crowdfunding, and doing a lot of research helped Adam raise money on Kickstarter. [5:21] How he prepared for the funding by first investing in the product. [7:03] He explains how he was able to run an aggressive campaign on Kickstarter and sell the product on different platforms. [11:02] The duration of a Kickstarter campaign and all the work that goes into it- preparing, during, and after the campaign. [13:39] The importance of the first three-day stage of the campaign and how to prepare for it. [16:28] Factors that differentiate between Amazon and crowdfunding and why each has unique potential in the success of product launches. [19:15] Adam explains the aspect of loyalty and true customer feedback witnessed on Kickstarter that is unavailable elsewhere. [21:14] The lessons he has learned about supply, marketing before launching and planning for enough sample production. [23:51] The most important things to get effective results from your Kickstarter campaign. [26:54] He talks about the amateur mistake he made of putting all his trust in one factory and later they failed him and he ended up regretting. [29:38] How he keeps a big list of product ideas to always have a pool to look at. Quotes: “The most important part of the campaign is your first three days, so if you launch your campaign and then you start thinking about running ads, that campaign is probably already dead.”- Adam [14:55] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/15762830

Customer-focused product development process with a distributed team - Shauna Lagatol Ep 58 08/28/2020

Customer-focused product development process with a distributed team - Shauna Lagatol Ep 58 Have you tried a more in-person consumer product testing over desk research? How is your product development process, do you keep the consumer in mind through the whole process? In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Shauna Lagatol, a 17-year CPG, food and beverage veteran, and the CEO at Spencer Trask & Co. She started her career in bioscience and now drives for business success. Listen in to learn how Shauna creates and drives a team from freelancers that help come up with innovative products. You will also learn how to create a product with the target consumer in mind by allowing them to personally test the product. Key Takeaways: How to be inspired by the consumer when creating a product. The importance of building a brand by conducting in-person consumer product testing over desk research. Why direct to consumer approach is the now of brands to connect with consumers. The process of outsourcing capable team players for your project. How to work efficiently by utilizing software when working with freelancers remotely. How to market around trends model. Episode Timeline: [3:04] How she led an innovation team to quickly launch multiple products at Nestle Waters. [4:42] She explains the strategies of getting one on one with consumers that they used when creating those products. [7:08] The product development process that the team follows before the product is released into the market. [9:52] She explains the creative ways that both big and small companies can use to get their products tested by in-person target consumers. [13:37] How in-person consumer product testing helps startups understand their target customer and build their brand at the same time. [16:41] She explains the strategies that both big and startup companies can utilize to get directly to the consumer. [20:34] How to balance your strengths and weaknesses by learning what you don’t know and sourcing for help. [23:26] She explains how she creates a team out of capable freelancers to help with her projects and where she gets them. [27:12] The difference between large companies and startups in managing teams. [29:26] She describes her approach to incorporating software to help work efficiently and hold team members accountable. [32:04] How to launch a product, what to consider, and the benefit of a small company over a big one in product launching. [34:54] Learning to leverage the current events to amplify your social media strategy. [37:53] How she has learned to ask deep inquisitive questions to help understand where the other person is coming from. [40:26] Why she regrets not having written goals earlier in life. Quotes: “Direct to consumer is the now of how brands will connect to consumers.”- Shauna Lagatol [16:59] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/15744794

Product Launches Plans & the Ultimate Retail Buyer Strategy– Julie Walker EP 57 08/21/2020

Product Launches Plans & the Ultimate Retail Buyer Strategy– Julie Walker EP 57 Julie Walker: Strategies to Turn Your Retail Business Scorecard Green Is your buyer’s scorecard green? It is important to add value to your buyer beyond the product you’re selling which will lead you to gain influence. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Julie Walker, she is a seasoned executive with 30 years of industry experience spanning brand management, shopper marketing, sales leadership, and multiunit retail operations. Before starting her own strategic firm, she was the CEO of Shopper Events and spent 24 years at Proctor& Gamble. Listen in to learn how to validate your product and make the design stand out from the competition. You will also learn the strategy that will get you the attention of the buyer and fulfill their expectations of your business. Key Takeaways: The importance of forecasting a product’s performance in the market rather than focusing on its distribution. The importance of hiring an agency to help your business get attention from a potential buyer. The major mistakes that happen in the top to top meetings and the right thing to do. Learning to align and support your buyer’s business culture. Episode Timeline: [0:34] Intro: [2:44] She talks about the situation with the companies that she helps during the pandemic. [3:39] How she’s helping struggling companies to understand the market and accessing their capabilities. [5:43] The industries that are unexpectedly doing better than it was initially anticipated. [7:30] How to evaluate the context of a product when designing to stand out from similar products. [10:57] How to avoid legal problems with competitors plus validating why your product would be buyable. [12:42] Learning to start with the end in mind before launching a product. [15:03] How to get a buyer’s attention when you’re a small company by hiring an agency plus when to know they’ll work for you or not. [17:05] How to add value beyond the product you’re selling to gain influence by going green on everything on the buyer’s scorecard. [18:13] Some of the things that are in the buyer’s scorecard that as a business owner you don’t think about. [19:32] The meaning of the top to top business planning and it’s relation to your business leadership. [23:31] The importance of understanding where you fit in the buyer’s ecosystem to better get an idea of their expectations of you. [24:28] How to fulfill the expectations of your buyer while aligning and respecting their culture. [27:54] Julie advises those in retail and or planning to join the retail business. Quotes: “Build a plan to add value beyond the product you’re selling, to gain influence.” - Julie Walker [17:11] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/15676307

First Generation Immigrant Builds A Massive Home Decor Brand -Jenny Zhu Ep 56 08/14/2020

First Generation Immigrant Builds A Massive Home Decor Brand -Jenny Zhu Ep 56 How First-Generation Immigrant Jenny Zhu Created the Massive Triangle Homes Fashions from Scratch. In a business that deals with warehouses from India and China to manufacture their textile products, there has to be an incredible business model, right? In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Jenny Zhu about her home décor textile business Triangle Homes Fashions. She is a first-generation immigrant who has turned Triangle homes into a massive company in only 10 years and now sells to major retailers plus 40 others. She graduated in 2005 summa Cum laude from the Fashion Institute of Technology before founding Triangle Homes in 2008. Listen in to learn the business model she uses with manufacturing factories overseas while taking care of the business side of things in the US. You will also learn the strategy they use at Triangle Homes to keep business running smoothly during the pandemic. Key Takeaways: How to use the ERP system to get the business data that helps you plan ahead. Learning to overcome challenges in a foreign country and rising to start a leading business. How to differentiate your brand to stand out in a saturated market. Episode Timeline: [0:29] Intro [2:01] She explains the home textile products that Triangle Home Fashions creates and distributes when she founded the company, and their business model. [3:29] How the COVID-19 has affected their operations from working from home to how they establish warehouse guidelines. [6:27] She describes how they prepared for the COVID-19 by manufacturing early and shifting the process from China to India. [9:41] The business model they use with their warehouses and shipping of products and what they’re looking to change in the future. [13:30] How they build a great ERP system to give them data to analyze different skew performance. [16:17] She explains where she spends her time in the company as the CEO while helping the team steer the company forward. [19:21] She narrates her childhood in China, the challenges she faced after her move to the US plus pursuing a career in the textile home décor field. [25:51] She explains how they differentiate their Lush Décor brand from similar décor brands. [31:48] The methods they use to skew inventory to get solo inventory turn goals. [35:35] She describes how she has had a hard time balancing work and life as an entrepreneur. Quotes: “We offer our customers some inspiration, we believe the customer will have a sense of what it is they want and we help them to find it and create the home of their dream.”- Jenny Zhu [25:57] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/15565331

How CPG Brands can Grow & Find Investors Now- Jeff Grogg- Ep 55 08/07/2020

How CPG Brands can Grow & Find Investors Now- Jeff Grogg- Ep 55 How to Strategically Plan for The Rest Of 2020 in Every Aspect With COVID-19 In Mind. Hiring is sometimes where many leaders fail when they choose to delegate that process to recruiters when they should do it themselves. Leaders should also focus on the core and the people as a strategy to continue growing the business. Jeff Grogg is the founder and managing director of JPG Resources and has founded businesses in spaces ranging from athletic training to alcoholic beverages, in contract food manufacturing, to a new food venture fund. He has 25 years of experience as a leader in the natural food and beverage space. He shares his background and experience in the food industry and his strategy in acquiring and investing in small businesses. Listen in to hear advice on what to focus on for struggling small businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic. Key Takeaways: The power of a great team and input for business growth and leadership efficiency. The importance of hiring better people than you as a leader. How to make hard choices as a struggling business and focus on cash management and profitability. The science of abnormal supply chain explained. How to find high-quality deals in the right places for companies looking to acquire. Learning to simplify, focus on the goal, and focus on the people during hard times. A badly managed business vs a strategically managed business. Episode Timeline: [0:29] Intro [1:57] He has a background in food science and has found himself in both food and business management. [2:44] He credits teamwork and great input for his efficiency. [3:37] How he has scaled to afford people who are better than he is so he could move on to where he can add more value. [4:50] He describes different performance for different companies that he helps during the Coronavirus. [6:21] How to find actionable and aggressive ways to save struggling businesses. [7:38] He explains what JPG does in the food industry and helping other companies. [9:20] How he grew JPG through referrals and marketing even before he started. [10:37] He talks about the recent exciting project he’s worked on growing a small business to greater heights. [12:25] Why the supply is functioning differently because they’re built for a different market place than what is existing right now. [15:43] He describes qualities of the companies that they’re looking to fund and the deals they’re looking to acquire. [17:42] How they leverage networks that help them acquire higher-quality deals. [20:05] How he has learned to focus on the core goals and the wellbeing of the team during the COVID-19 pandemic. [21:00] He explains how he lost a plant after failing to manage it in the right way. [23:27] The process of hiring the right person for overall business success. [25:16] How to focus on discipline and simplicity when striving for business growth. “Do what you do best, do it really well, do it profitably.” -Jeff Grogg [25:30] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/15462692

How Bartesian Retained IP, Built a Lean Team and Outsourced Sales & Distribution - Ryan Close- EP 54 07/31/2020

How Bartesian Retained IP, Built a Lean Team and Outsourced Sales & Distribution - Ryan Close- EP 54 How to Leverage Opportunities and Build an Authentic Brand Authenticity is something every new business should be striving for when branding. In the era of social media, your followers should translate to engagement and sales at the end of the day which is a good marketing strategy. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Ryan Close, the founder, and CEO of award-winning intelligent hardware and consumer package good startup Bartesian. He is a former bartender, life-long entrepreneur, and passionate collaborator who has taken an idea from the garage to global. Ryan shares how his product Bartesian increased sales tremendously during the Coronavirus period and the marketing strategy they used. Listen in to learn the investor and partnership strategies that Bartesian leveraged to get funding and grow to what it is today. Key Takeaways: How to be authentic and engage customers to grow your business online. How to approach the strategy of looking for a partner. The masterful art of creating a product that sells itself. The benefits of doing something uncomfortable to become stronger and independent in what you’re doing. The qualities of a good leader that leads to team success. How to delegate tasks only to people who are aligned with your business mission and goals. Episode Timeline: [0:29] Intro [1:51] He explains in detail what is Bartesian and how it functions. [4:21] How the Coronavirus has impacted Bartesian positively seeing their sales increase up to 450%. [6:33] How Bartesian got free publicity from a viral TikTok video which was a huge booster for their brand and sales. [7:58] He explains how authenticity leads to customer engagement. [10:34] How they leverage the strategy of a small team that is productive. [11:41] He shares his investor story which took years of looking for funding and forming strategic partnerships. [18:01] How he perfected the design of the product by leveraging their partner. [21:40] How he launched Bartesian with Quickstarter. [23:54] Studying in Singapore and what that taught Ryan businesswise. [27:17] How he learned to be a good leader by joining the team rather than telling them what to do. [30:128] Learning to balance the fire inside of you as an entrepreneur and allowing things to take the course. [33:22] How to be candid with how you’re marketing your business and providing authenticity. [35:12] How he initially made the mistake of trusting the wrong person with his business. Quotes: “Anything that could make you uncomfortable, is going to make you better.” -Ryan Close /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/15369575

Rapid growth from 5 Business Acquisitions & eCommerce Growth during COVID – Steve Greenspon - EP 53 07/24/2020

Rapid growth from 5 Business Acquisitions & eCommerce Growth during COVID – Steve Greenspon - EP 53 Rapid growth from 5 Business Acquisitions & eCommerce Growth during COVID Innovation and differentiating are ways that ensure success in any industry and especially in an industry like homeware. These may include coming up with new designs and utilizing technology to the maximum. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Steven Greenspon, the founder and CEO of Honey-Can-Do international. A leading provider of home storage, organization, garment care, ethnic cuisine preparation, and other housewares. Steven shares the strategies that his company utilizes in its operations that makes it different from other homeware companies out there. Listen in to learn the process of acquiring smaller companies and why Steven believes it might be harder than acquiring mid-sized companies. Key Takeaways: How to set up an effective work-from-home strategy for your employees during the Coronavirus period. The importance of investing in potential retailers and having effective communication. Learn how you can manage your time effectively attending only to important things. The advantage of having honest effective employees. Understanding the acquisition process of new companies and what to look for before acquiring. How you can innovate and differentiate in your industry to make your products unique even in a common industry. Episode Timeline: [0:29] Intro [2:20] He explains what his company does which is primarily a home storage organization. [3:38] How Honey-Can-Do International took early steps to deal with the COVID-19 to keep things running smoothly while still protecting the employees. [7:12] He explains how their working from home strategy has worked out perfectly. [10:19] He gives information about the size of the company’s workforce and its physical location. [12:10] How they deal with consumers directly through eCommerce and with specific retailers. [13:28] The growth in the eCommerce sector and investing in growing and potential retailers. [15:09] He talks about the challenges of dealing with retailers. [19:25] Steven explains how he effectively manages his personal and professional time. [21:38] Why he loves his position as the CEO and the tasks he performs to ensure company growth. [24:38] He describes the networking show held by the IHA organization that brings housewares companies together. [27:55] He speaks about his time at the LDR industries and the cause of his eventual leave. [31:07] The process of acquiring other businesses and how to differentiate them. [36:35] He describes the emotional attachment of smaller companies that makes it difficult to acquire. [38:34] How they’re innovating and differentiating in a common industry like homeware. [42:03] He shares the mistakes that cost the company money by trusting incompetent employees. Quotes: “We learn something new in the process of every single acquisition that we’ve done that we see this as a great opportunity for the future in terms of growth.”- Steven Greenspon [34:49] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/14777645

Niche Made To Order Products & Leveraging Oprah’s Favorite Things List - Kim Strassner - EP 52 07/17/2020

Niche Made To Order Products & Leveraging Oprah’s Favorite Things List - Kim Strassner - EP 52 The Strategies of Starting and Managing Profitable Businesses During the Coronavirus Pandemic. What does it take to run a seasonal business that is prone to any disasters like the COVID-19? What if there are effective strategies that can change people’s minds about buying even though their reasons for buying change? In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Kim Strassner about her business and how it has been affected by the pandemic. Kim is the co-founder of Words with Boards, an online gift shop that deals with unique wooden personalized and custom products. Listen in to learn the online strategies that Kim has used during the pandemic to lift her company from making losses earlier in the year to make profits now. You will also learn how to recognize a need that can turn into a profitable business opportunity. Key Takeaways: How to use SEO on your website to attract buying customers without paid ads. How to take advantage of a need in a certain niche and start a profitable company to solve the problem. The importance of effective PR campaigns to build credibility and grow sales for your company. Episode Timeline: [0:35] Intro [1:41] Kim describes their personalized products at Words for Boards all made in the USA and their tree planting initiative [2:30] She explains what makes their products different from any other in the market. [4:19] The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their business and the online strategies they have used to improve that. [7:33] How they started a face mask company when they saw a business opportunity. [9:03] How they generated $100k in sales in 3 weeks with their new company through word of mouth and press mentions. [11:42] She describes the manpower of her company plus the comparison of sales between the website and other means. [13:32] She mentions some of the PR strategies they have been involved in that brought immense sales and credibility. [16:02] She narrates the story of how she lucked out with focused and effective employees. [17:59] Why they plant a tree for each product purchased through their website as something they believe in. [19:49] How to communicate to your customers with authenticity during this time. Relevant Links: Websites: & LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/14777627

How to Bootstrap and Build a Lasting Company - Steven Hong - EP51 07/10/2020

How to Bootstrap and Build a Lasting Company - Steven Hong - EP51 How to Bootstrap and Build A Lasting Company The e-commerce world is a very competitive one, which means you need a strong brand strategy to establish a long-lasting business. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Lou speaks with Steven Hong, the self-titled Chief Bandito at his company Discount Bandit, an online shopping service that matches up discount shoppers to retailers. Steven is a serial entrepreneur in the e-commerce space and has founded multiple e-commerce companies. Steven shares the immeasurable value of investing in a strong brand strategy that is more long term as compared to brand performance. Listen in to learn the importance of having an effective company culture in ensuring every employee is encouraged and determined to work. Key Takeaways: How to use traditional digital marketing by targeting the right customer hence creating a brand presence and a loyal following. The business model of targeting to make nothing on the first transaction. Questions to ask yourself when building a lasting business. The value of a brand strategy that is a more long term than brand performance. How to value your employees by influencing the company culture. Episode Timeline: [4:08] The impacts of Coronavirus to mid-sized companies and employees. [5:42] The negative effects of Coronavirus against Discount Bandit. [10:40] He explains how they use digital marketing to specifically target the right customer. [14:39] The importance of building a die-hard fan base even when it means losing money during that first transaction. [17:21] How to create value, culture, and be technology-focused to build a longer-lasting business. [22:17] How content marketing helps with long term brand recognition and lots of respect from manufacturers. [25:15] The importance of getting the company culture right. [26:43] How to hold company values to uplift the company culture “I think that culture is one of the few sorts of sustainable competitive advantages that a company can have.”- Steven Hong [26:01] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/14777594

Chicken Health & Egg Farm Secrets – John Brunnquell – EP50 07/03/2020

Chicken Health & Egg Farm Secrets – John Brunnquell – EP50 What Does It Take to Be A Giant Egg Retailer? Do you know how egg farming works? The process that comes before you get it from your nearest retailer? In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters sits with John Brunnquell as they talk about what it takes to sell and grow inside retailers in the specialty egg industry. John spent his entire career in the egg industry founding Egg Innovations in the 1990s. He shares the positive impact they have experienced in the retail egg industry due to COVID-19 and how that will work in the long-term. Listen to hear the different types of hen farming methods and the contribution each makes in the egg industry in the US. Key Takeaways: How the dramatic short-term changes that have occurred due to the pandemic. Learning to deal with the increased demand for a product over a short time. The integrated model of chicken farming when it comes to dealing with divisions of large retailers. The difference between cage-free, free-range, and pasture-fed chicken and their percentage in the American chicken market. What it takes to get freed space and win huge grocery companies across the country as a brand. Episode Timeline: [0:34] Intro [2:22] He tells the history of how Egg Innovations was born. [4:02] How the COVID-19 has positively impacted the egg industry with a 40% increase in the traditional value. [6:33] The two sides of the egg industry- the increased sales of retail and decreased sales of wholesalers. [7:32] The ways they’re using to build up their inventory to cover for the oversupply. [8:51] The impact of the current situation on the retail market in the long term. [9:55] He explains how they use the integrated model to run the business at Egg Innovations. [13:12] He talks about the marketing plans they have to create more brand awareness. [13:56] He explains the difference between cage-free eggs and free-range eggs. [15:36] Does the use of antibiotics on a bird make it inorganic? [16:33] He explains the percentage of chickens that are consisted of each category. [20:21] He explains how he gets freed space and what it takes to win groceries. [21:42] Where you can find Blue Sky across the country. [22:54] What is the truth about the relationship between eggs and salmonella? [25:29] The backyard hobby of raising hens and its non-economic impact. Relevant Links: Websites: /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/14777576

Female CEO of 3 Niche D2C Brands - PE investor backed - Alix James - EP49 06/26/2020

Female CEO of 3 Niche D2C Brands - PE investor backed - Alix James - EP49 Are you familiar with the process of companies joining private equity or being acquired instead? In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Alix James, the accomplished CEO of Nielsen-Kellerman company that is a designer and manufacturer of weather stations. She talks about why Nielsen-Kellerman joined private equity and later acquired three different companies to be run under the same umbrella. Listen in to learn how COVID-19 has affected both their supply and sales as a manufacturer. Key Takeaways: The work that goes into getting acquired business run smoothly after closing the deal. The impact of COVID-19 on the supply and sales of manufacturers in the US market. How to be smart as a business when planning for the future post-Coronavirus. How to manage and market for different companies under the same umbrella. Episode Timeline: [0:34] Intro [2:05] She talks about the birth of Nielsen-Kellerman company and what they do. [3:50] She explains why they joined private equity when the business was roughly 30 years old. [6:04] How they were able to acquire some businesses after joining private equity. [8:34] How they are working towards separating all 3 company domains and the benefits of it. [9:54] The effects of COVID-19 on their supply chain since they outsource electronics from China even though it’s not one of their major problems. [13:09] How Ambience weather products sell directly to consumers and the cost that the consumer should expect for the products. [16:23] She explains how the COVID-19 has affected the variability of sales. [19:20] How they’re planning for the future Post-COVID. [26:54] She talks about the scope and size of the NK company and the recognition they have received from their clients. [30:12] The management strategies for each of the companies under the NK umbrella. [35:16] She gives the percentage of the varied sales they make on amazon and directly. [38:05] How brand familiarity is working for them in online marketing. Relevant Links: Website: LinkedIn: Email: /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/14777519

The Amazon alternative that protects your brand - Jules Pieri – EP48 06/19/2020

The Amazon alternative that protects your brand - Jules Pieri – EP48 What you’ll learn: In this episode of the Page One Podcast, your host Luke Peters talks with Jules Pieri, the co-founder and CEO of The Grommet, a managed marketplace. Jules begins by describing how the company works and touches on how coronavirus has impacted The Grommet and different ways that Jules is working hard to care for her team during the crisis. In the second half of the episode, Jules discusses the main differences between The Grommet and Amazon, her perspective on using social media like Pinterest and Facebook, and the opportunities that Amazon’s shortcoming open up for businesses like The Grommet. Finally, she and Luke talk about the takeover of large companies like Amazon and changes that need to happen to protect smaller businesses. About our guest: Our guest, Jules Pieri, is the co-founder and CEO of The Grommet. Educated at the University of Michigan and Harvard Business School, she has gone on to compete with huge companies like Amazon and start The Grommet, a site that has launched more than 3000 innovative consumer products since 2008. The company's citizen commerce movement is reshaping how products are discovered, shared, and bought. Jules is one of Fortune's most powerful women entrepreneurs in 2013 and won Goldman Sachs 100 most interesting entrepreneurs in 2014. She is an Entrepreneur in Residence Emeritus at Harvard Business School and an investing partner at XFactor Ventures. She also happens to be an author! Jules’ first book, “How We Make Stuff Now: Turn Ideas into Products That Build Successful Businesses,” was published by McGraw-Hill in April 2019. Key takeaways from this episode: How The Grommet has handled coronavirus and Jules’ strategies for taking care of her team during this time The differences between The Grommet and Amazon The centrality of product videos on The Grommet’s website Jules’ view of using social media like Facebook and Pinterest How Amazon’s shortcomings open opportunities for companies like The Grommet How to protect against cheap, counterfeit manufacturers and changes that need to take place to protect businesses Episode Timeline: 0:55 – Luke introduces today’s guest, Jules Pieri 1:50 – A description of Jules’ company, a managed marketplace 3:58 – How coronavirus has impacted Jules’ and The Grommet 6:38 – Business changes during the pandemic, meetings, and communication 12:43 – The Grommet staff and warehouse locations 14:48 – Jules’ personal strength: designing and creating 15:28 – The differences between The Grommet and Amazon 20:49 – The Grommet’s site traffic and conversion rate 24:00 – How The Grommet uses product videos on their website 25:12 – How The Grommet uses social media like Facebook and Pinterest 27:03 – Jules talks about the best consumer product opportunities 29:00 – What opportunities does Amazon open up for competitors? 31:09 – Jules’ perspective on the changes needed to protect companies 37:00 – “How We Make Stuff Now” by Jules Pieri /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/14171075

Disruptive Brand Marketing From A Consumer Lens – Hannah Robbins – EP47 06/12/2020

PPP Loan Forgiveness & making the most of the Cares act for businesses – Frank Kaufman – Moss Adams - EP 46 06/05/2020

PPP Loan Forgiveness & making the most of the Cares act for businesses – Frank Kaufman – Moss Adams - EP 46 Have you applied for the PPP fund? Did you know there’s still time for you to apply? But wait, before you apply, there are some things that you need to keep in mind. In this episode of the Page One podcast, Luke Peters sits with Frank Kaufman as he talks about the PPP fund and all that you should know before and after applying and whether you will be forgiven or not. Frank is the retail national practice leader at Moss Adams and chairs the firm’s Paycheck Protection Program Technical Resource Group. He has been serving clients in the Retail and Direct to Consumer channels since 1983. Listen in to learn about the PPP forgiveness and the mistakes you could be making in that process. Key Takeaways: When the PPP fund is forgiven and the time it will take to start repaying if it’s not. Understanding the law behind the PPP fund. The elements of the buckets of PPP fund forgiveness. Why you need to go apply for the PPP fund if you haven’t already. Understanding the 11 months loan forgiveness process. How you can use your PPP fund for the liquidity of your business. Other programs aside from the PPP that you can apply for a loan from. Episode Timeline: [0:30] Intro [3:02] He explains how different retail businesses his company represents are performing amid COVID-19. [4:30] He describes Moss Adams- their span and whom they serve. [7:05] He explains in detail why the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has delayed. [9:01] Why you need to be smart in how you spend your PPP fund which can either be forgiven or the time you need to prepare before starting to pay it off. [11:54] Understanding when taking the PPP loan money can lead to breaking the law and where you get protected. [14:57] The two buckets that are considered when it comes to forgiveness. [16:27] The missing elements that are not too obvious in the two buckets of forgiveness. [19:32] He explains the methodologies that you can use to calculate and help impact your forgiveness amount. [20:57] How you can count employees that did not come as though they came back. [23:18] He mentions some of the common mistakes that borrowers are making that could hurt their loan forgiveness process. [26:05] How the PPP money can become an equity contribution to your business if forgiven. [28:48] He describes ways in which you can improve your company’s liquidity. [31:25] How the digital economy and fear of losses from banks is going to affect how investors will view businesses in the future. [33:50] The changes in the investment’s patterns now and in the future due to the COVID-19. [36:28] He mentions some other programs that you can apply to aside from the PPP or even if you get it. Relevant Links: Email: Website: /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/14670062

Corporate Gifting and Employee Appreciation During COVID-19 – Tom Romine - EP45 06/04/2020

How to negotiate with your Target and Walmart Buyer and leverage your power – Daniel Duty – EP44 05/29/2020

How to negotiate with your Target and Walmart Buyer and leverage your power – Daniel Duty – EP44 What you’ll learn: As businessowners and entrepreneurs, we’ve all negotiated with someone—whether that be buyers, clients, or manufacturers. Just two months into COVID-19, and you may also be considering a renegotiation with your landlord of your office lease—if you haven’t done so already. Here to guide us through negotiations of all kinds is negotiation ninja Daniel Duty. Daniel lead the negotiation to get Starbucks into all of Target’s stores. He knows a thing or two on how to build partnerships, leverage power, and craft a solution that meets everyone’s needs. Listen for endless tips on how to approach your next negotiation. About our guest: Daniel built the Business Partnerships and Negotiations team for Target where he developed its negotiations and partnership strategy and implemented a variety of tools and frameworks, creating billions of dollars in savings, growth and innovation. Daniel has led hundreds of negotiations with companies like Nestle, Hasbro, and Unilever. He developed strategic partnerships creating innovative new products and solutions with organizations like P&G, Starbucks and UNICEF. Prior to joining Target, Daniel negotiated on behalf of US Senator Paul Simon, the US International Trade Commission, General Mills and other organizations. Key takeaways from this episode: The most common mistake companies make when negotiating with buyers and vendors—3:10 3 tips for renegotiating your lease in the time of COVID-19—5:52 How to maintain partnerships during an email or non-verbal negotiation—8:48 What is the right approach to negotiating a China tariff price increase? —12:28 How to leverage your differentiation in the marketplace to buyers—16:03 A guide to more successfully pitching your brand to Target—17:14 Negation trends: what is working today and what isn’t—21:00 How to determine if your buyer is using negotiation tactics or tricks to get you to lower prices—24:12 The importance of being honest and knowing your rank as a supplier—26:06 The top factors that buyers look for when considering a quote supplier—28:40 The 3 sources of leveraging power during a negotiation—30:18 How a negotiation coach will help you grow top line and grow bottom line as an organization or business of any size —36:07 Get a evaluation of your online sales strategy Episode References: Contact Daniel Duty: + Contact Luke: + Listen, Subscribe, Review: + /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/14083526

How a Husband and Wife Team Sold Their House to Build A Startup. Then The COVID19 virus Hit – Karina Rabin – EP43 05/22/2020

How a Husband and Wife Team Sold Their House to Build A Startup. Then The COVID19 virus Hit – Karina Rabin – EP43 What you’ll learn: If you own a small business or startup, you most likely cut your marketing budget to extend you cash flow through this COVID-19 pandemic. You are most likely also figuring out how to pivot your marketing strategy now that your retailers are closed, cash flow is tight, and customers are turning to ecommerce marketplaces. On today’s episode, we interview a new business owner with a small company to talk you through these very issues. About our guest: Karina and Jared Rabin are the co-founders of a popular all-in-one picture hanging tool called the Hang-O-Matic. They sold their dream home in Orange County in order to self-fund their product and get it into major retail stores like Hobby Lobby, Menards, and Home Depot. Key takeaways from this episode: What is the Hang-O-Matic? The tool you need in quarantine–4:50 How Karina and Jared met and brought Hang-O-Matic to market—6:01 Major Hang-O-Matic retail partners—7:14 How Karina navigated third-party sellers driving down MSRP—8:18 The impact coronavirus has had on Hang-O-Matic sales—10:10 How a small retailer business shifts to ecommerce—10:52 Why COVID-19 demands you shift your marketing focus and learn new skills as a business—11:45 Increase ROI directly within retailer sites—13:56 How to balance vendor IPO’s with long payment terms—15:14 The unique licensing deal that doesn’t just deal with royalties—10:28 Karina’s biggest fears and hopes as a small business owner living in a COVID-19 world—21:10 Best marketing strategy for startups like Hang-O-Matic—23:01 How to get a 100% buyer response rate with the right sales pitch—25:45 Get into stores immediately with the right LinkedIn pitch—28:14 Biggest lesson Karina learned by starting a business before the virus—31:53 Get a evaluation of your online sales strategy Episode References: Contact Karina Rabin: Contact Luke: + Listen, Subscribe, Review: + /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/14004050

China Supply Chain & OEM Manufacturing – protect your brand and stay competitive globally - Bruce Kaminstein - EP42 05/15/2020

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